Devotion

six ﾒ frat parties

ANGELICA

Never in a million years would I have thought to get ready for a party Luca Bertarelli invited me to, much less a frat party.

I've been to my fair share of frats and sororities while in college, but I enjoy the chill college parties where I'm not pressured to drink away my life as it depends on it. I'm a very chill, quiet person. I like the space.

Partying is starting to feel old somehow. I'm not sure why, because people don't stop once they reach 21. In fact, it gets worse once you're 21. I'm new to the age, as is everyone else, but I'm an old lady sometimes.

Sometimes I just want to lay in bed and read articles and books and discover new knowledge, fall asleep at nine in the evening, survive off of energy drinks and coffees for a day, and binge-watch movies like 13 Going on 30. And today is one of those nights. But no, Leilani just has to be a little party animal and drink like she doesn't have a night shift tomorrow.

Me included. So, overall, this was a bad idea. We have work tomorrow, and we can't work with a hangover. It's not professional, and it'll make me want to call you out.

As I speak, Leilani is gripping the hell out of her phone as she's going through her very long playlist while doing her makeup. Wonder Woman, she is. Her blonde hair is curled up into multiple hair curlers, and she's holding up her phone camera to her lips as she applies her signature nude lipstick.

Usually, I find nude lips weird-looking. But it fits her. Just as I'm about to start getting ready myself, the speaker in my room blasts out a song by Rihanna. Lei's a huge Rihanna fan, and I can't blame her; she makes me want to hop on my bed and shake my ass like crazy.

I enter my large walk-in closet, taking note of the clothes I have stored there. There's my heels and shoe wall, my dress wall, my pants wall, etc. I go through each dress literally, only to not be in the mood for any of them.

I'm going to be very honest. I don't want to go to this stupid party. 1.) I'm running on low amounts of sleep. 2.) I'm not in the mood for drinking. 3.) Luca will be there.

I'm only going because my damn best friend loves tequila too much.

After soul-searching for a dress, I aim for a simple white strapless dress. It's got sparkles and all that cute stuff, so I'll wear it. Before I could think about my next act, Leilani was holding a bottle of Casamigos Blanco tequila and two shot glasses.

"Bitch!" She screams, popping open the bottle like champagne. "We are about to go out! Be happy!" Lei smiles, setting the glasses down, when she notices my down expression.

Then her face turns sad. "Aw, A. You don't have to go if you're not in the mood."

I sigh. "I don't want to leave you alone, Lei. I want to make sure you get home safe and nothing happens." My lips flip into a frown, but then I say, "But I think I'm just tired. It's not that I don't want to go. Just not necessarily right now."

She throws me into a bear hug, smoothing down my braids. "A, don't go. We can stay here and eat ice cream and be sad about what you're sad about together." Her arms cradle mine, her face buried in my neck.

Okay, no breathing is going on right now. Literally, I am restricted.

I tap her waist; her body is jolting. "Lei, I can't breathe," I say breathlessly. "Lei." I urge her once again until Leilani moves away from me.

"Sorry, A." Her tan skin is now tomato-red. I mean, firefighter-type red.

Leilani turns her back to me inside my huge walk-in closet, beginning to pour shots. I'm supposed to be the designated driver since Rowan can't, and I quote, 'chaperone' us because he has overtime at work.